I’ve gone down a serious rabbit hole with this show. After watching every season back to back, the one thing I kept thinking about was the locations.
They don’t just look brutal. They feel brutal, even through a screen.
In this post, I’ll walk you through every filming location, season by season. You’ll learn why each place was picked, what the conditions were like, and how the setup mirrors real military training.
I’ve covered this show closely, so you’re in the right place.
Here’s everything you need to know about Where Is Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test filmed.
What You Need to Know About Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test is a reality competition show where celebrities go through a version of real military selection.
It is not a standard reality show. Former Special Forces soldiers design and run every single task. There are no easy days and no soft challenges.
The filming locations are chosen to match the harshest training grounds used by actual military units around the world.
Each season films in a different country, and each location brings its own set of conditions. The terrain, the climate, and the setting all add to the difficulty of every challenge.
Special Forces Filming Locations by Season
Each season takes the cast to a different part of the world, and the location always matches the intensity of the test.
Season 1 Filming Location: Jordan
Season 1 was filmed in Jordan, using the rocky desert terrain around Wadi Rum. The heat was extreme, the ground was rough, and the open landscape had nowhere to hide.
The production team chose this region for its vast, untouched wilderness and natural dramatic lighting. Every shot felt grounded and real because the location demanded it.
Jordan gave Season 1 a raw, military-grade feel from the very first episode, setting the tone for everything that followed.
Season 2 Filming Location: New Zealand
Season 2 moved to New Zealand. The South Island’s cold rivers, rugged hills, and thick forest replaced the desert entirely.
The wet conditions and steep terrain pushed contestants through a kind of physical stress that heat alone cannot replicate.
The landscape felt relentless in a completely different way from Jordan, and that contrast made Season 2 stand out as one of the most physically demanding yet.
Season 3 Filming Location: Wales
Season 3 was filmed in Wales, in the Brecon Beacons mountain range. This area is already used for real SAS selection training, which added serious credibility to the show.
Cold weather, steep terrain, and unpredictable conditions made this one of the most punishing seasons. The mountains offered no shelter and no easy ground.
Every day brought a new physical test, and the environment made sure contestants had nowhere to recover between them.
Season 4 Filming Location: Morocco
Season 4 headed to Morocco. The Atlas Mountains and surrounding desert brought a mix of extreme heat, high altitude, and rough ground.
The terrain is unforgiving in every direction, with steep climbs, loose rock, and temperatures that swing hard between day and night.
The altitude alone changes how your body performs, making Morocco a fitting and brutal choice for another punishing season.
Why These Locations Are Chosen for Filming
The locations are not picked for looks. They are picked because they break people down the same way real Special Forces training does.
Harsh Landscapes for Military-Style Challenges
The show needs places that push contestants to their limits. Deserts, mountains, and cold wilderness do exactly that.
Real Special Forces soldiers train in some of the hardest terrain on earth.
If the land isn’t hard, the test isn’t real. None of these locations are easy to film in, but that’s the point.
Desert, Mountain, and Urban Training Environments
Each terrain type brings a different kind of physical stress. Desert environments create heat stress and dehydration risk.
Mountains add altitude, cold temperatures, and steep inclines. These aren’t just backdrops. They are active parts of the challenge itself.
The variety across four seasons reflects how broad real Special Forces training actually is.
Filming Conditions on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test
The cameras roll in the same conditions the celebrities face. Nothing is staged to look harder than it is, and nothing is softened for the audience.
Real Special Forces-Style Training Setup
The show uses a team of DS, which stands for Directing Staff. These are real former Special Forces soldiers who design every task based on actual selection courses.
The setup is not a TV version of military training. It’s as close to the real thing as a TV format allows.
You can tell the DS doesn’t care about the cameras. They care about the test.
Types of Challenges Filmed During the Show
The challenges include long-distance carries, water immersion, sleep deprivation, resistance to interrogation, and obstacle courses.
Every element comes from real military selection programs. Filming captures every failure and breakdown in real time.
When a contestant quits, there’s no dramatic buildup. It just happens, and that honesty is what sets this show apart.
Conclusion
Now you know Where Is Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test is filmed.
From Jordan’s desert to Morocco’s mountains, every location was chosen because it tests people in ways that feel real, because they are.
I personally think Season 3 in Wales looks completely relentless. Cold, muddy mountains make you tired just watching.
Did this help? Drop a comment and tell me which location stood out most.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test filmed in a real military base?
No, it films in real-world locations that match military training conditions.
Was Season 1 of Special Forces filmed in the Middle East?
Yes, Season 1 filmed in Jordan’s desert.
Did any season of Special Forces film in the UK?
Yes, Season 3 filmed in the Brecon Beacons, Wales.
Why does the show film in a different location every season?
To bring new terrain and conditions that contestants cannot prepare for in advance.
How long does filming for Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test take?
Filming spans a few weeks, with little rest time between challenges.
